18 February 2010
Do you have job security? Is that why you stay?
Lately, I’ve been reading a book called No More Dreaded Mondays by Dan Miller, although the older version that I’m reading is just called No More Mondays. No, I’m not quitting my job, but I’ve always had an interest in running my own business of some sort. This book basically discusses whether or not you should leave your “traditional” job for something more entrepreneurial. I have often thought that I have avoided taking a leap into my own business because of I feel like my job is secure. My wife often tells me that it’s probably not, but I still have the old-fashioned belief that “They’d never get rid of me”. This book has a great story that you should read if you have any beliefs of job security in your current position.
One day, while soaring through the sky, the Chicken said to his good friend the Eagle: “Let’s drop down and get a bite to eat. My stomach is growling.” “Sounds like a good idea to me,” replied the Eagle. So the two birds glided down to earth, saw several animals eating, and decided to join them. The Cow was busy eating corn, but upon noticing that the Eagle and the Chicken were sitting on the ground next to her, she said, “Welcome. Help yourself to the corn.”
This took the two birds by surprise. They were not accustomed to having other animals share their food quite so readily. “Why are you willing to share your corn with us?” asked the Eagle. “Oh, we have plenty to eat here. Mr. Farmer gives us all we want,” replied the Cow. With that invitation, the Eagle and the Chicken jumped in and ate their fill. When they finished, the Chicken asked more about Mr. Farmer. “Well,” said the Cow, “he grows all our food. We don’t have to work for the food at all.”
“You mean,” said the Chicken, “that Mr. Farmer simply gives you all you want to eat?” “That’s right,” said the Cow. “Not only that, but he gives us a place to live.” The Chicken and the Eagle were shocked! They had always had to search for food and work for shelter.
When it came time to leave, the Chicken and the Eagle began to discuss the situation. “Maybe we should just stay here,” said the Chicken. “We can have all the food we want without working. And that barn over there sure beats those nests we have been building. Besides, I’m getting tired of always having to work for a living.”
“I don’t know about all this,” said the Eagle. “It sounds too good to be true. I find it hard to believe that one can get something for nothing. Besides, I kinda like flying high and free through the air. And providing for food and shelter isn’t so bad. In fact, I find it quite challenging.”
The Eagle flew back to his natural environment while the Chicken stayed on the farm, where food and shelter were free. Everything went fine for the Chicken. He ate all he wanted. He heard the farmer say to his wife that the preacher was coming to visit the next day and they should have fried chicken for dinner. Hearing that, the Chicken decided it was time to check out and rejoin his good friend Mr. Eagle. But when he attempted to fly, he found that he had grown too fat and lazy to get off the ground. Instead of being able to fly, he could only flutter. So the next day the farmer’s family and the preacher sat down to a lovely meal of fried Chicken.
When you give up the challenges of life in pursuit of security, you may also give up your freedom. Has the temptation of security led you into a potential trap in your own life?
If you want to know more about the book, you can click the picture at the top or if you want to know more about the author, click his name in the first paragraph.
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